SPEECH
BY SHRI K.R. NARAYANAN, PRESIDENT OF INDIA, WHILE RECEIVING CREDENTIALS FROM DR. MOHSEN AL-KHAYER,
AMBASSADOR-DESIGNATE OF SYRIAN ARAB REPUBLIC
NEW DELHI, JUNE 6, 2001
Excellency,
It
gives me great pleasure to accept your Credentials as the Ambassador Extraordinary
and Plenipotentiary of the Syrian Arab Republic to India. I heartily welcome
you to India and extend my sincere congratulations on your appointment
to this position of eminence and high responsibility.
Relations
between our two countries go back to several millennia. They have been
fashioned by history and strengthened by the larger commonalities between
the two great ancient civilisations, encompassing almost every aspect
of life – cultural, social, religious, political as well as commercial.
The historical interaction at various levels has also led to strong foundations
for uninterrupted friendly relations between our two countries. Indeed,
India’s relationship with Syria has conditioned her relations with the
Arab world in a meaningful way, just as India’s long tradition of close
interaction and linkages with the Arab world provided a sound setting
for India-Syria relations. In the contemporary era, we consider Syria
as an important country in the Arab world and in the region and believe
that Syria plays an important role in maintaining peace and stability
in the region.
The
late President, His Excellency Mr. Hafez Al-Assad, was always held in
the highest esteem in India. We are all aware of late President’s statesmanship,
his contribution to the Middle East Peace Process and his decision to
have peace as a strategic option. The transition of the Presidency to
His Excellency Dr. Bashar-al-Assad is a testimony to the maturity and
wisdom of the people and polity of Syria.
Excellency,
India’s strong defence of Arab rights continues to remain a basic tenet
in India’s foreign policy. India’s relations with the Arab world are based
on certain principles and values and will continue to remain unchanged.
We consider the Arab world as our extended neighbourhood and we, therefore,
are vitally interested in the peace and stability of the region. We maintain
that a just, comprehensive and lasting peace in the region can be achieved
only on the basis of relevant UN Security Council resolutions and the
principle of "Land for Peace". Accordingly, we continue to extend
our support for Syria’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.
The
post-cold war international agenda is being shaped in a manner that reflects
largely the interests of the industrialised countries. India and Syria
and other like-minded countries have to work closely together, by seeking
and promoting convergence of our perceptions for the sake of our larger
common interest, so as to prevent a one-sided agenda being imposed on
us. The issue of reforms of the United Nations and the expansion of the
Security Council is of primary importance in this context. Similarly,
we need also to work together on other important issues such as, matters
relating to WTO, disarmament etc.
It
is a matter of deep concern that the growing menace of international terrorism,
extremism, ethnic separation, trans-border organised crime and drug trafficking
is posing significant threat to international peace and stability and
civil society. We condemn terrorism and extremism in all its forms irrespective
of political, philosophical, ideological, religious, ethnic, racial or
any other consideration that may be invoked to justify them. As civilised
societies, let us both join hands to give a global focus to this menace
and to find ways and means to combat it.
Excellency,
the economies of India and Syria have certain comparative advantages and
resources which can be optimally used to promote economic cooperation
between the two countries. A considerable scope exists for meaningful
cooperation in areas such as informatics, computer software, solar energy,
bio-technology, remote sensing and non-renewable energy sources etc.
I
would like to assure you that in your capacity as the Ambassador Extraordinary
and Plenipotentiary of the Syrian Arab Republic, you will receive full
cooperation and support of the Government of India on all issues pertaining
to our bilateral ties. I wish you an enjoyable and productive stay in
India and every success in your endeavour to further promote Indo-Syrian
friendship.
I
would also like to take this opportunity to convey my best wishes to the
leadership of the Syrian Arab Republic and for the prosperity and well
being of the friendly people of Syria.
Thank you
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